Liquid-vending machine



Feb. 3, 1931. s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 1 grime/M100 Feb. 3, 1931. s. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE 4sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1929 mam/M SIZ.Z0IW 3 r I J attowoqo;

Feb. 3, 1.931.

s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE ,QSZZ.

r I duct/nap.

Feb. 3, 1931.

s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1929AYIZZZflIW J' I I a elk/town:

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 I 1,791,217

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE SIDNEY L. LONG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTALIQUID-VENDING MACHINE Application filed May 29, 1989. Serial No.386,934.

This invention aims to provide novel means ceptacle 11, there is alongitudinal guide 26 for dispensing material such as liquids, in onwhich an desired number of weights 27 predetermined quantities, andalthoughaprecan be slida ly mounted. The lever is fcrred form has beenshown, let it be underada ted to be held in the inclined position 6stood that a mechanic working Within the of Figure 1 b a latch 29fulcrumed at on scope of what is claimed may make changes a post 28 in te housing 1. A pin 31 on the without departing from the spirit of theinpost 28 engages in an arcuate slot 32 in the vention. I latch 29 andlimits the movement of the latch.

In the accompanying drawings which il- AS Shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thelatch or look- 10 lustrate one form in whlch my invention may g devlce29 is provided with a lower notch b b di d; 60 and an upper notch 61,the purpose of Figure 1 is a vertical section wherein the h h W111presentl appear. receptacle is lowered; Figure 2 is a similar h upperend 0 a link 33 is pivoted to the view with the'receptacle raised and infilling latch and the lower end of the link is 15 position; Fi 3 4 d 5are ti ivoted to a side bracket on a coin lever 34 taken, respectively,on the lines 3-3, 4 -4,- ulc rumed at 35 on the post 28, the com lever d5-5 f Fi 2, having a weight 36 at one end, and a com Th frame f th hin il d a b receptacle 37 at the other, the numeral 38 like housing 1divided by a partition 2 into markmg a chute carried y the housmg 20 dii compartment 3 d a i 1 and dlschargmg into the coin receptacle 3?.

partment 4, access being had to the dispens- The numeral 39 marks aSecond t ing compartment 3 through an opening 14 as clhmed a 40 Oh the Pf t 18 and restlhg 0h {1 shown in Fig. 5. A tank 5 is mounted on the p41 In such Posltloh t h the curved housing 1 and discharges into thedispensing pp end of the latch 39 15 1n the P of ompartment through aspout 6 having a keeper P111044: 01 1 the sld e Of the lever 15. guides7 in which slides the stem 8 of a valve T latch 3 1S mslheht at lts ppend {Phil 9 that seats on the upper end of the spout 6, 13 h agalhst the41 y a return p t-f upward movement of the valve being limited on the Plhe lfltcll 39 has a by a stop 10. 4: adapted to cooperate with the k eeer pm A receptacle 11 i t d to move up d 44 on the lever 15. A barrier46 1s ocatcd down i h di i Compartment 3 d between the stem 8 and thereceptacle ll, a container Such as a paper cup 12 may b when thereceptacle is lowered. lhe barplaced in the receptade. The receptacle 11Her 46 extends under the rece )tacle 11 when is mounted on a carrierincluding a lever 15 the receptacle 15 U 1 lgm'e 1 and a radius arm 16disposed parallel to the l 'n 0f hcbarrier 46 is to prevent} P 5 lever.The lever 15 and the radius arm 16 Son t l'oachlhg through W p g arepivoted at 17 to the receptacle 11. The hovlhg R the m hhsehtlhg the tlever 15 raises and lowers the receptacle 11, i and h material to he p fh and h di arm 1 keeps it ti L The outthlavmg first deposited therequisite com radius arm 16 is ivoted at 20 to a post 18 in the housing1, ar id the lever 15 is fulcrumed 1he 46 1S hlhged at f to the 9 at 19intermediate its ends on the post. The a 1 t a Polht above the p g A hlever 15 has an upward extension 21 on which 48 1s pivoted at Q to one gf hobarrier is mounted a pivot element 22 carrying a dog a d ah e gmember Whlch i 5 23 for Swinging movement. A n spring be a stiff rod, 1spivoted at 51 to the opposite 24, connected to the lower end of the dogand edge P the Operatmg member to h extension 21 k th d i h 49 slidesthrough the pivot element 22 on position that its upper end willcooperate thfi ext/P115101? 21 of the 1ever 15! and a ragk 0n the post()n that, end finger 52 \VlllCli engages the pltut 91611181; 272

50 of the lever 15 which is remote from the reunder circumstances whichwill be made 46 to assume a vertical depen manifest hereinafter. Theinner end of the link 48 is pivoted to the upper arm of a bell cranklever 53 fulcrumed on a standard 54 in the housing 1, the lower arm ofthe bell crank lever having a side pin that extends under the radius arm16.

In practical operation, suppose that the parts are arranged asdelineated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The 0 erator places a coin inthe chute 38, the com rolling along the chute and acquiring lodgment atlength'in' the coin rece tacle 37 on the lever 34. The lever 34 is tited, by the wei ht of the coin. into the dash line osition 0 Figure 1,and the coin rolls out o the receptacle 37, into the coin compartment 4.When the lever 34 is tilted as aforesaid, b the weight of the coin, thelink 33 swings t e latch 29 clear of the lever 15, the movement of thelatch 29 and conse uently the movement of the lever 34 towar the dashline osition of Figure 1, being regulated by the en h of the slot 32 inthe latch 29, wherewith t e pin 31 cooperates, in a manner which will beunderstood readily when Figure 4 of the drawings is noted.

When the lever 15 has been set free, by the operation of the latch 29,as aforesaid, the right hand end of the lever 15, and the receptacle 11move upwardly, responsive to the action of the weights 27. At this time,i

the weights 27 are at the inner end of the guide 26 and, as a result thereceptacle 11 is not slammed up violently against the valve stem 8.

As the left hand end of the lever 15 moves downwardly past thehorizontal, the weights 27 slide to theleft hand end of the guide .26,thereby making the weights the more effective as a means for pressingthe rece tacle 11 against the valve stem 8. When t e right hand end ofthe radius arm 16 moves upwardly from the osition of Figure 1 toward theposition of Figure 2, the radius arm 16 no longer bears on the pin 55 ofthe bell crank lever 53, and the barrier 46 swings by gravity into avertical position, the operating member 49 sliding longitudinallythrough the pivot element 22 on the extension 21 of the lever 15. Thereason for permitting the barrier ing position for a time, is in order,that the rece tacle 11 may be raised from the position of i are 1- tothe position of Figure 2, without hitting the barrier; but by t e ,timethat the recep- ,tacle 11 is raised to the position of Figure 2,

the finger 52 on the operatin member 49 has engaged the pivot element52, and the barrier 46 is swung beneath the elevated receptacle 11.

When the valve stem 8 is raised, and the valve 9 unseated, by thelifting of ,the receptacle 11, as indicated in Figure 5, the upper endof the stem 8 comes into contact with the stop 10. Liquid flows from thetank 5 through ,the spout 6 into the cup 12 within the receptacle 11 andthe weight of liquid dispensed is governed by the mass of the weights 27on the guide 26, since the receptacle 11 will start to move downwardlyas soon as theweightofliquid in the cup 12 overcomes ,the action of theweights 27 plus the friction of moving parts of the mechanism. Thereceptacle 11 ultimately arrives in the position shown inFigure 1, andthe operator can remove the cup 12 through the opening 14. At apretermined time in the tilting of the lever 15 to the position ofFigure 1, the wei hts 27 slide again to the right hand end of t e guide26. As soon as the left hand end of the lever 15 has been raised farenough, ,the latch 29 will swing by gravity beneath it, and hold theparts in the position of Figure 1 until another coin is deposited in thechute 38. When the arts are in the position of Figure 1 the ra ius arm16 engages the pin 55 and tilts the lever 53, the link 48 swinging thebarrier 46 above the receptacle 11, thereby to prevent access to thestem 8, and to avoid the obtaining of material without depositing acoin.

When the lever 15 swings from the position of Figure 1 to the positionof Figure 2, the keeper in 44 on the lever 15 enga es automatical y withthe seat 45 in the atch 39, and when the lever 15 swings from theposition of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 1, the keeper pin 44 isdisengaged from the seat 45 of the latch 39. The latch 39 is employedfor two purposes, to wit, to overcome the downward ,thrust of the valvestem 8, when the receptacle '11 is ralsed, as in Fig ure 5, and toovercome the pull of the barrier 46. If there were no valve stem 48, orno barrier 46, latch 39 and the keeper 44 could be dispensed with, sincethe weights 27 and the liquid in the receptacle 11 serve to tilt thelever 15 back and forth and operate the machine. 7

It will be also noted that the action of closing the barrier serves tocheck the speed of the receptacle at both the upper and lower position.As the receptacle moves upwardly, the element 22 engages the finger 52and retards the'upward movement of the receptacle. Also, as thereceptacle moves downwardly, the arm 16 and t e pin 55 operate in a likemanner to bring the receptacle gently to rest at the bottom.

The functions of the dog and rack previously mentioned are to make afull movement of the mechanism imperative, the main object being tocause the cup to be completely lowered and locked in position before thedog is freed from the rack. Otherwise, a cup could be stopped before itreached the bottom sition and before the lever was locked, the liquidtaken out, a new cup put in, and sent up to be filled, without the useof a coin.

It is to be noted that the action of closing the'barrier 46 serves tocheck the speed of the receptacle 11 at both the upper and lowerpositions thereof. As this receptacle moves upwardly, thefinger 52engages the element 22 and retards the upward movement of thereceptacle. Also as the receptacle moves downwardly, the arm 16 byengaging with the pin 55 operates in a like manner to bring thereceptacle ently to rest at the bottom. It is to be noted also that thesliding weight 27 and also the engagement of the dog 23 with the rack 25serves to vary the speed of the receptacle 11. The function of the dog23 and the rack 25 is to make a full movement of the mechanismimperative, the main object being to cause the cup to be lowered withthe lever ready to be locked in position before the dog is freed fromthe rack. Otherwise, a cup could be stopped before it reached the bottomposition and before the lever was locked, the liquid taken out, a newcup put in, and returned to upward filling position without the depositof a coin. Two notches and 61 on the latch 29 are used in looking thedevice as will appear from Figs. 3 and 4. The lower notch engages thelever before the dog leaves the rack while the second notch makesengagement with the lever after the dog 23 leaves the rack 25. If itwere not for the lower notch 60, a person might stop the downwardmovement of the cup as soon as the dog leaves the rack and before theupper notch engages the lever so that the machine might be defrauded inthe manner previousl stated by a person emptying the cup and re lling itwithout depositing a coin. While I have disclosed my dispensing machineas being set in operation by a coin, I do not herein claim any noveltyin the coin-control mechanism per se, and it is obvious that the machinemay be set in operation by other forms of applied force beside theweight of a coin.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A dispensingmechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the leverintermediate its ends, a weight, means for mount ing the weight on oneend of the lever for sliding movement toward and away from the fulcrumof the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite'end of the lover, asupply valve discharging into the receptacle, the supply valve beingopened when the receptacle is raised, the weight constituting means fortilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty receptacle, andopening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid in the receptacleserving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower thereceptacle, and means for holding the receptacle releasably in lowcredposition.

2. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming thelever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted to slide by gravity on oneend of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of Y thelever, a supply valve discharging into the receptacle, the supply valvebeing opened when the receptacle is raised, the weight consti tutingmeans for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the emptyreceptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid inthe receptacle serving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction andlower the receptacle, and means for holding the receptacle releasably inlowered position.

3. A dispensing mechanism comprising as cooperating parts, a lever and aradius arm disposed in approximate parallelism; means for fulcruming thelever intermediate its ends, means for ivotally mounting-the radius arm,a weig t mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on theopposite end of the lever, means for pivotally connecting the radius armwith the receptacle, a supply valve dischar ing into the receptacle, thesupply valve eing opened when the receptacle is raised, the weightconstitutirig means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising theempty receptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquidin the receptacle serving to, tilt the lever in an opposite directionand lower the receptacle, means for holding the receptacle releasable inlowered poistion, a barrier, means for mounting the barrier mov-ably,and mechanism actuated by one of said cooperating parts for moving thebarrier into a position to guard the Valve when the receptacle islowered.

4. A dispensing mechanismieomprising a lever, means for fulcruming thelever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of the lever, areceptacle mounted on the opposite end of the lever, a supply valveoperated by thrust and engageable with the receptacle to discharge intothe receptacle when the receptacle is raised, the weight constitutingmeans for tilting the lever in one direction and raising the receptacle,the weight of the liquid in the rece 'itacleserving to tilt the lever inan opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for holding thereceptacle releasably in lowered position, and a latch havingautomatically-releasal)le engagement with the lever whilst thereceptacle is in engagement wit-h the valve, thereby to ofl'set thethrust of the valve.

5. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming thelever intermediate its ends, a Weight mounted on one end of the lever, areceptacle mounted on the vopposite end of the lever, a supply valvedischarging into the receptacle, the supply valve being opened when thereceptacle is raised, the weight constituting means for tilting thelever in one direction, raising the empty re- Jceptacle, and opening thesupply valve, the

weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever in anopposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for holding the .anda latch havin receptacle releasably in lowered position a barrier, meansfor mounting the barrier or swingin movement, means for connecting thebarrier operatively with the lever whereby the lever will swing thebarrier into guarding position with respect to the valve,automatically-releasable engagement with t e'lever whilst the barrier isin guarding position with respect to the valve, thereby to offset thedrag of the barrier on the lever.

6. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming thelever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of the lever, areceptacle mounted on one end of the lever, a supply valve discharginginto the receptacle, the valve being opened when the receptacle israised. the weight constituting means for tilting the lever in onedirection, raising the empty receptacle, and opening the supply valve,the weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever inan opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for. holding thereceptacle releasably' in lowered position, a fixedly-supported rack,and a dog pivotally mounted on the lever and cooperating with the rack,the throw of the lever beingsutiicient to carry the dog clear of eachend of the rack, the length of the dog being such that it will cooperatewith thejrack and stop the movement of the lever when an effort is madeto reverse the direction of swinging movement of the lever whilst thedog is at a point intermediate the ends of the rack.

7. In a liquid vending machine, means for holding the mechanism understress, means for releasing the stress, causing a receptacle to rise andcome in contact with a valve, thereby releasing liquid through saidvalve, means by the weight of the liquid of returning said receptacle toits original position, locking the mechanism again under stress andholding it releasably and a weight shiftable by gravity tending tocounterbalance said receptacle. 5

8. In a liquid vending machine, means for holding the mechanism understress, means for releasing the stress, causing a receptacle to rise andcome'in contact with a valve, thereby releasing liquid through saidvalve,

means by the weight of the liquid of returning said receptacle to itsoriginal position, locking'the mechanism again under stress,

and holding it releasably, means for guarding the valve while themechanism 15 in operation, and means for guarding the valve when themechanism is at rest.

9. A liquid vending machine, comprising a lever, means for fulcrumingthe lever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of thelever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of the lever. means forholding the lever under stress of weights, means for releasing saidstress, thereby causmg the receptacle to rise and open a valve releasingliquid into the receptacle, the weight of the liquid causing thereceptacle to fall into its original position, and again lock the leverunder the stress of the weights, and means for guarding the valve whilethe machine is in operation and also while it is at rest.

10. In a liquid vending machine, means for actuating the mechanism-bythe weight of the liquid dispensed in-combination with slidably mountedweights, and means for varying the speed of said mechanism at differentperiods of its movements.

11. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding thematerial to be dispensed, a movable member for receiving materialdispensed from said container, and a shiftable weight which causes saidreceiving member when empty to movev upwardly to a position adjacentsaid container, said shiftable weight having a greater, counterbalancingaction on said'receiving member when the latter is in upwardpositionthan when in lowered position. 1

12. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding thematerial to be dispensed, a lever, means 'for fulcruming said lever, aweight. means for mounting said weight on said lever for slidingmovement toward and away from the fulcrum of said lever according to theposition of the lever, a receiving member carried by said lever, acontrol device normally preventing discharge of material from saidcontainer and adapted to be moved into releasing condition by upwardmovement of said lever, and means for holding said lever releasably inlowered position.

13. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding thematerial to be dispensed, a movable member for receiving materialdispensed from said container, means for mounting said receiving memberwhereby it is lowered by the weight of material received thereby, meansfor lifting said receiving member when emptied, and means for varyingthe speed of said mechanism at different periods of its movements.

14. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding thematerial to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever" forreceiving material dispensed from said container, means for mountingsaid lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received bysaid member, means for lifting said member when emptied, a rack, and atensioned dog carried by said lever which engages said rack during thegreater portion of movement of said lever in both directions and whichreleases from said rack when said lever isin upper and inlower position.

15. A dispensing mechanism'comprising a container for holding thematerial'to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever forreceiving material dispensed from said container, means for mountingsaid lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received bysaid member, and a pivoted latch having two engaging members, one ofwhich engages said lever as it is approaching its lowered position andthe other of which engages said lever as it reaches its loweredposition.

16. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the.material to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever forreceiving material dispensed from said container, means for mountingsaid lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received bysaid member, 'means for lifting said member when emptied in its loweredposition, a rack, a tensioned dog carried by said lever which engagessaid rack during the greater portion of movement of said lever in bothdirections and which releases from said rack when said lever is in upperand in lower position, and a pivoted latch having two engaging members,one of which engages said lever during its downward movement while saiddog is still in engagement with said rack and the other of which engagessaid lever after said dog is released from said rack.

17. A dispensing mechanism comprising a reciprocating device forcarrying the material to be dispensed, means for locking said deviceunder stress, means for unlocking said device by applied force, meansfor performing the first half cycle of the operation by weights, andmeans for completing the cycle and locking the device by the weight ofthe material dispensed.

18. A dispensing mechanism comprisin a container for holding thematerial to be 'spensed, a lever, weights associated with said lever, amember carried by said lever for receiving material dispensed from saidcontainer, means for locking said lever in lowered position under stressof said weights, means for unlockingsaid lever b filling the weight ofmaterial dispensed into said receiving member, and positive means forpreventing the movement of said lever from being reversed before it hasbeen locked under said stress.

19. A dispensing mechanism comprisin a container for holding thematerial to be (ispensed, a lever, a receiving member carried by saidlever, a. control member normally preventing discharge of material fromsaid applied force whereby said receiving mem er is raised into osition,said lever being lowered by Y container for holding the material to bedispensed, a lever, a control member normally preventing discharge ofmaterial from said container and adapted to be moved into releasingcondition by upward movement of said lever, a barrier, and connectionsbetween said levers and barrier for moving the barrier into a positionbetween said control member and said receiving member when the latter isin lowered position.

21. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding thematerial to be dispensed, a reciprocating member, a receptacle carriedby said reciprocating member, a control device normally preventingdischarge of material from said con ainer and adapted to be moved intoreleasing condition by upward movement of said reciprocating member, acounter-balancing device associated with said reciprocating member forcausing upward movement thereof when said reeeptiu-le is empty, themechanism being so constructed that a predetermined weight of materialin said receptacle serves to move said reciprocating member downwardly,and an automatically releasable device which holds said reciprocatingmember in upward position whereby the tendency of said control device toclose is offset until said receptacle is filled with the predeterminedweight of material.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixedmy signature.

SIDNEY L. LONG.

Ill

